On the surface, it tells the story of a young man living in a large South American city in the present day who becomes infatuated with Diciembre, a guerilla theatre group that was active during the country's civil war in the 1970s. He winds up joining them in a ragtag attempt at a revival tour through a string of Andean villages, failing to anticipate the heavy consequences of his choice. There is much complexity woven into this initially straightforward story. Alarcón takes up the narrative mantle of Bolaño here, drawing his narrative around the lives of people who have long disappeared, through the recollections and conflicts of a range of characters whose own lives are plenty complicated.
If you're intrigued, check out this inverview with Alarcón, conducted recently by Bookslut. There's also this great episode of the New Yorker Fiction podcast featuring Alarcón reading a Bolaño story. Or you could just come over here and get yourself a copy! Bonus: hardcover fiction is always 20% off at the store!
